Azeri-Israeli trade topped $2bn in 2010 – report
Azerbaijan-Israel trade turnover exceeded $2 billion in 2010, double the volume of trade between Azerbaijan and its close ally Turkey, according to Israeli news website Ynetnews.com.
The website noted that Ankara has recently called on Baku to reconsider its relations with Tel-Aviv, amid growing Turkish-Israeli tensions.
It said further that Israel is meeting 10 to 20 percent of its demand for oil with crude pumped through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, which transports Azerbaijani oil to world markets through Georgia and Turkey.
The report said Israel is also supplying modern military technologies to Azerbaijan and is helping to train the Azerbaijani military. "As part of cooperation between the two countries, Israel’s arms manufacturer Elbit Systems plans to establish a joint venture to produce drones, having opened an office in the former Soviet republic."
Ynetnews.com noted that Azerbaijan has assumed a strategic role for Israel’s security and foreign policy.
The website also said Baku hopes that Turkey-Israeli tensions will subside soon.
Angered by Israel's refusal to apologize over the nine deaths on a Turkish aid flotilla to Gaza last year, Turkey suspended military ties with Israel, expelled the Israeli ambassador, pledged to support the Palestinians' statehood bid and vowed to send the Turkish navy to escort Gaza-bound aid ships in the future.
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